Road Cycling

[grudas]

You get to play "is that a puddle or is that a puddle with a massive pothole under it" as well!

Whats utterly baffling is that you are sometimes on pokey little roads that clearly get a fair chunk of traffic but they are brilliant to ride on. Fast, relatively smooth and clearly not particularly new and then you have utter garbage roads that are horrible to ride on. I assume that if you relay a bit of road badly then thats pretty much it. We don't seem to have the money or desire to resurface most roads properly so they are just patched to hell and it all falls apart again very quickly.

I recently found a nice stretch when my commute home had a re-route due to closed roads, problem is.. to get to that nice stretch I have to ride on the bumpiest road ever. The surface is not so much potholy but just "bad" rattles my teeth.

I found a local cycling club and checked their website, they're nice enough to upload their routes to the website so I borrowed a few to try and explore. Most funny enough go the other way to what I usually cycle so I wonder if the other end of my town is better for cycling.. and I presume a local cycling club will know good routes.

 

[fez]

I recently found a nice stretch when my commute home had a re-route due to closed roads, problem is.. to get to that nice stretch I have to ride on the bumpiest road ever. The surface is not so much potholy but just "bad" rattles my teeth.

I found a local cycling club and checked their website, they're nice enough to upload their routes to the website so I borrowed a few to try and explore. Most funny enough go the other way to what I usually cycle so I wonder if the other end of my town is better for cycling.. and I presume a local cycling club will know good routes.

There is a group local to me that I steal a lot of my routes from. They seem to do very similar variations on about 6 routes though which is a bit unfortunate. Choosing beggers and all that though

 

[Defy Belief]

What's the general consensus here on getting a professional Bikefit for a new road bike?

Got a new bike and awaiting my pedals/SPDs, Reddit is full of people that wouldn't ride a bike without it or would never spend money on it

 

[fez]

What's the general consensus here on getting a professional Bikefit for a new road bike?

Got a new bike and awaiting my pedals/SPDs, Reddit is full of people that wouldn't ride a bike without it or would never spend money on it

I had one and it was good. The problem with bike fits are like the issues with anything like this. There are a few groups of people and they all have very strong views and they are all wrong (apart from me)

Basically the people who think bike fits are a complete waste of money fall into three camps:

1. People who don't need a bike fit and never have done. They have a bike that fits them really well and because of that they cannot fathom how anyone else can need one.
2. People who have had a **** bike fit so think that bike fits are a scam. They cannot fathom why anyone would pay a lot of money for something that clearly doesn't work.
3. People who changed their saddle height 4mm once which made their bike feel great magically and because they "did their own bike fit" its clearly super simple and they cannot fathom why anyone would pay for something so simple.

Then there are the other camp who think bike fits are great. They have usually had a good one either from someone known to be very good or they just happen to be lucky and chance on a good local one. They effuse about them because an uncomfortable bike is not nice and you can spend a lot of money on bike stuff that doesn't help. The price of a bike fit is usually a fraction of the cost of buying the wrong bike.

The fundamental issue is that everyone is different. Everyone has different leg lengths, arm lengths, torso length, flexibility, injuries, leg length discrepancies, range of motion issues etc etc etc. Add into that age, whether you have been riding a long time or short time. What bike you currently have. What type of bike it is. At the extreme end you could have someone who is 5'5" with the arm length and leg length of a 6'2" person. They would not suit the classic bike sizing model which is already accepted to generally put you on a bike that is too large.

You could be a 2cm saddle height adjustments away from the perfect fit or you could require:

• Peddle axle extenders
• Different length cranks
• Different size frame
• Different saddle
• Different shoes
• Shoe inserts
• Different stem length
• Wider/narrower bars

Personally I would ride your bike for a while and see how comfortable you are. You can fix some basic issues and get a basic bike fit done via watching some youtube video (checkout bike fit James) and have a fiddle with the easy things to change. Saddle height, saddle fore and aft (position of the seatpost on the rails) and potentially stem height via spacers.

If you are riding SPD-SL pedals, move the cleat as far back on your shoes as it will go as a starting point.

That will be £299 please.

 

[Shadowness]

I’m trying to talk myself out of bike fits. Been riding for years without having had one at all.

But I’m convinced that on all three bikes, I sit too far back. I know KOPS isn’t a gold standard in the fitting scene, but I swear my knee is quite a bit behind the spindle. Unless it’s how I think I see it from looking down (probably not plumb) while riding.
Keep meaning to get someone to take a video while I ride past to check.

Also, does anyone else feel like a proper manly man when doing a load of bike maintenance without having to resort to taking it to the LBS?! Had a right faff with my (cable) calipers on my Specialized. They just weren’t retracting properly, so had a really spongey level feel. Sourced it to too long cable outlets as they came in and out of the internal routing, so caliper was not strong enough to push back. Shortened the outer and all good Looking like a dry week too, so going to get some miles on that hopefully.

Also (again) ordered an adapter to hopefully mount an Exposure light under the Garmin mount, but I think it’s the wrong one. So still can’t figure out how people do that!

 

[Vandle]

+1 for a pro bike fit. Did mine at a Specialised dealer. Changed my riding style a bit and removed soreness and numbness that I used to get. Worth every penny imo.

 

[Vandle]

Very warm 6 laps of Albert Park lake this morning where they are currently setting up the track for the F1 race. Not a pothole or deviation in sight, I doubt there is a better maintained stretch of tarmac in the entire country.

 

[Junglist]

I'll absolutely be going for a bike fit when I next buy a bike (quiet at the back!!) there's something about my Canyon that feels off. I'm sure it's a little bit too big for me but they're measuring system is adamant that I am a medium yet it feels every so slightly too long. Plus due to the all in one cockpit I can't really change much without a big cost so I don't want to do a fit on this bike and have it confirmed that it's wrong. Ignorance is bliss

And that's partly why I don't want another Canyon despite the value being brilliant

 

[Martynt74]

Agreed, i think a lot of bike bits probably size people up a little, but then it depends on bike style too. I went for a Large in my MTB and i'm right on the limit of what Trek suggest i should be in the large, and sometimes i think it's right, but then other times think i'd be better on an XL.
Ultimately with Stems and Crank length you can generally work around an incorrect frame quite easily.

I think Bike Fits are probably ideal BEFORE buying the bike as @Junglist is considering in 2045 when we're all riding hover bikes. Given you've already bought a bike i'd suggest riding it a while and then seeing whether any issues develop. Then if they do you can go to a bike fitter and point out issues you're experiencing (sore hands, knee pain etc) so they can be focussed on things.

 

[fez]

I'll absolutely be going for a bike fit when I next buy a bike (quiet at the back!!) there's something about my Canyon that feels off. I'm sure it's a little bit too big for me but they're measuring system is adamant that I am a medium yet it feels every so slightly too long. Plus due to the all in one cockpit I can't really change much without a big cost so I don't want to do a fit on this bike and have it confirmed that it's wrong. Ignorance is bliss

And that's partly why I don't want another Canyon despite the value being brilliant

Most brands suggest bikes that are far too big based on your height. Mainly because height is an awful metric to fit a bike based on. As a climber, one of the things many people know is their ape index ie. their height vs distance between their finger tips when your arms are spread out. Some people have -2" and some have +5". So on each side you could have a different of 10cm in reach vs someone the same height as yourself and thats ignoring torso length. So two people with the same height could potentially have a react difference of god knows how much if they were both put in the same position on a bike.

Most people are pretty average or their different length body parts all even out but plenty of people don't have that.

 

[Junglist]

I'm quite a limb-y person. long legs and long arms. I think I have a positive Ape Index when I last looked. So wider arm span than my height.

When I walked into the Specialized store last year and had a brief chat with the guy about getting sized up prior to buying I said I was on a Medium canyon which I believed was a 56 and right away he said "Nope, you're a 54" then said I should look at a 54 frame and slightly longer stem.

I went full circle on the weekend. Decided a new bike + kickr bike was a bit too splurgy. So a new bike and Kickr Climb will be the route I go. Then can use the wheels from the new bike on my old bike and the old bike can be a dedicated turbo and bad weather bike. Man maths strikes again!

 

[Roady]

I've had luck reporting potholes on www.fillthathole.org.uk previously. Also my local council has it's own portal and if you select an area, which they'd planned to repair/resurface it shows you when and sometimes even with a pothole was reported to them with a picture.

Not gonna lie. Just arrived back at Elche station at 10pm and feeling incredibly relieved to be in the back of a taxi rather than jumping in the bike!

Not surprising after a busy day and all the hassle/travel. Sometimes it's just best to get home the easiest way... But at least now you know how to do it & what's required.

Had an easy route adjustment which would've knocked around 20km off it which i was going to take, but then forced myself to carry on and generally actually felt alright. Made better by some Haribo at a local petrol station!

Good for getting out and good ride, especially after the problems the day before! What's the weather like over there? Saw some of your ride temps 4-5 degrees, but the afternoon was 20?

I guess a lot of that is my own fault insofar as I do 99% of my Zwifting on ERG. Takes a while for the legs to remember that you can't push 200w on a 15 degree hill in both directions.

Haha yeah, getting out over the winter really does help with that, sometimes get to the point (like I am now) where power is damn good and seem to be getting stronger & faster. But always at the times when I've not ridden hard outdoors for weeks/months! So always a bit dubious until I've ventured out properly. It's been so damn cold, I chickened out last saturday electing to stay in bed (and that 20 mins wasn't long enough to get ready) and it was a damn good morning for it. Typical!

 

[Martynt74]

Good for getting out and good ride, especially after the problems the day before! What's the weather like over there? Saw some of your ride temps 4-5 degrees, but the afternoon was 20?

Generally pretty cold. It's hitting 0C during the night and then isn't hitting double digits till around midday or so. Currently peaking around 13-15C before getting cold again. This morning i was out at 8am heading to the gym and it felt absolutely freezing.

Really glad in our decision to build now, as this winter feels colder than last year and it's horrible being in houses which aren't insulated.

 

[Roady]

What's the general consensus here on getting a professional Bikefit for a new road bike?

Got a new bike and awaiting my pedals/SPDs, Reddit is full of people that wouldn't ride a bike without it or would never spend money on it

New road bike - you're a new rider? You ride other things and got a road bike? You have an endurance road bike and now bought a race bike? You have an existing bike and don't like the fit/size so bought a new one? Lots of reasons...

Lots of reasons why... But also lots of reasons why a bike fit can be a waste of money. You don't *need* one. Nobody does. But if you're getting fit issues, have changed the way your riding, have changed a lot of other things then a fit might help you.

But much of a basic 'fit' for a new bike can be done yourself, especially if you're a new rider. Depending on your sizing and fit to the bike of course.

I've had basic fits in my LBS when buying a bike many years ago by a guy who went on to then run his own fitting company, so obviously pretty good. But also from usual sales guys there and at 2 other places, all fairly good, then tweaked myself, very little amounts. As I'm 172.5cm (5' 7") really am towards the lower end of a M (Giant) or 54cm (Specialized) frame. I know I've got shortish legs for my height and after getting fitter & fitter, yet still 'rocking' a lot in the saddle I figured I should get a 52cm frame. Went for a Bike Fit before purchase to confirm... Fitter said I absolutely should be on a 54cm frame, but I should be on shorter cranks to fit it, while also identifying a leg length discrepancy and needing a wider saddle. Also much narrow handlebars! So no real change to the saddle height, cleat position or even stem/bars height (why the 54cm is right for me), just my fitting points to it needed to change!

But for me (after ~8 years since my last shop fits and before I spent 7000 on a bike the wrong size) it was worth £190 and I had several hours (paid for 2, it was nearly 4!) 1-to-1 with a professional fitter. Did a bunch of flexibility tests, gave me measurements to give to bike shop when they put my new bike together, also a series of exercises to increase flexibility & recovery (we did over an hour off the bike doing flexibility, injuries & exercise related. 30-45 mins just on shoes & cleat positioning, shims and shoes).

I had one and it was good. The problem with bike fits are like the issues with anything like this. There are a few groups of people and they all have very strong views and they are all wrong (apart from me)

Basically the people who think bike fits are a complete waste of money fall into three camps:

1. People who don't need a bike fit and never have done. They have a bike that fits them really well and because of that they cannot fathom how anyone else can need one.
2. People who have had a **** bike fit so think that bike fits are a scam. They cannot fathom why anyone would pay a lot of money for something that clearly doesn't work.
3. People who changed their saddle height 4mm once which made their bike feel great magically and because they "did their own bike fit" its clearly super simple and they cannot fathom why anyone would pay for something so simple.

Then there are the other camp who think bike fits are great. They have usually had a good one either from someone known to be very good or they just happen to be lucky and chance on a good local one. They effuse about them because an uncomfortable bike is not nice and you can spend a lot of money on bike stuff that doesn't help. The price of a bike fit is usually a fraction of the cost of buying the wrong bike.

The fundamental issue is that everyone is different. Everyone has different leg lengths, arm lengths, torso length, flexibility, injuries, leg length discrepancies, range of motion issues etc etc etc. Add into that age, whether you have been riding a long time or short time. What bike you currently have. What type of bike it is. At the extreme end you could have someone who is 5'5" with the arm length and leg length of a 6'2" person. They would not suit the classic bike sizing model which is already accepted to generally put you on a bike that is too large.

You could be a 2cm saddle height adjustments away from the perfect fit or you could require:

• Peddle axle extenders
• Different length cranks
• Different size frame
• Different saddle
• Different shoes
• Shoe inserts
• Different stem length
• Wider/narrower bars

Personally I would ride your bike for a while and see how comfortable you are. You can fix some basic issues and get a basic bike fit done via watching some youtube video (checkout bike fit James) and have a fiddle with the easy things to change. Saddle height, saddle fore and aft (position of the seatpost on the rails) and potentially stem height via spacers.

If you are riding SPD-SL pedals, move the cleat as far back on your shoes as it will go as a starting point.

That will be £299 please.

This post is incredible mate. Amazing work and spot on! Need to point anyone who talks about fitting to it!

I’m trying to talk myself out of bike fits. Been riding for years without having had one at all.

But I’m convinced that on all three bikes, I sit too far back. I know KOPS isn’t a gold standard in the fitting scene, but I swear my knee is quite a bit behind the spindle. Unless it’s how I think I see it from looking down (probably not plumb) while riding.
Keep meaning to get someone to take a video while I ride past to check.

Also, does anyone else feel like a proper manly man when doing a load of bike maintenance without having to resort to taking it to the LBS?!

The big rides you do I find it pretty hard that you have fit issues and not had a fit?!

Really KOPS isn't something to see while actually pedalling, very hard to see by eye yourself... With nobody to help then better stationary so can see the plumbline (seriously just have a bit of string with a weight on the end - even a roll of thread). Pedal at 3 o'clock and lay it alongside your axle and see where it seems to show...

The knee angles and ankle rotation is all in a Bike Fit... But if you can rule out your issue with just doing KOPS yourself then you save a bunch of money! Seriously measure it to see how far back your knee is, make a note of the previous saddle nose to middle of bars and then slide saddle forwards, do maybe 5mm, then measure KOPS again. Little changes for any cleats/saddle, I'd probably say if you're more than 5mm maybe do 2-3mm and see, don't do the whole amount and 5mm might even be too much. A couple of mm might be all it takes - you might need more - but any change like this you have to let your body get used to. If you're more than a few mm you might even need to add some saddle height for the new position as you'll also be rotating over the bars more...

Defo enjoy doing bike maintenance, not just for the massive cost savings!

 

[fez]

Anyone interested in a pair of specialized torch 2.0 black cycling shoes EU43. Used for probably about 10 rides before I accepted that they were too narrow for me.

£20 posted before I sling them on ebay.

 

[Martynt74]

On the subject of bike fit. Does anyone have one of those cleat position board thingies?

When i had my bike fit he used one to ensure things were aligned and it seemed a handy tool. Until i went and bought new shoes and cleats.... Been considering the Ali Express version rather than anything proper.

Bicycle Pedal Cleat Adjustment Tool Fit SPD for KEO Road MTB Bike Pedal Cleat Adjust Tool Bicycle Cleat Adjustment Bicycle Tools - AliExpress 18

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

es.aliexpress.com

Feels like my left one isn't quite aligned the same as my right foot, and whilst i'm not really noticing any issues, i'm also conscious that something might develop thats quick/cheap to fix.

 

[Shadowness]

Does anyone use or has heard of Eat My Ride?

Started watching Harry Sweeny's YT videos (really recommended if you want some behind the scenes of a pro cyclist). He uses (or used) this app and seems pretty trick. Essentially a fancy way of tracking glucose usage during a ride and ensuring you're always fueled fully for the varying intensities of a ride/workout. Also has an app that can be loaded onto Edge head units too.

 

[Liefrich]

I'd say a decent bike fit is worth it, especially if you are going to invest in cycling as your hobby. I've just had a bike fit here in South Wales. The two most important factors from my fit were:

1. Shoes. My old Shimano shoes were too narrow for my foot; they also lacked arch support. I was convinced to buy some Lake shoes, and part of the deal was he made a custom-fitting insole for 'free'. I was happy to buy the shoes as I knew mine were not quite right, and to be frank, it's difficult to find a shop with enough options to try on. He also moved the cleats further back and put some shims on my cleat and pedal axle to get a wider stance.
2. Crank length. I'm riding 170mm cranks, and the fitter thinks I should be on 165mm. Unfortunately, there is currently a lack of stock for an Ultegra crank in this configuration, so I'm now on the waiting list to try 165 or even 160s when he receives stock. The only extra expense will be the crank purchase because the follow-up appointment is free.

Thankfully, I was on the correct-sized bike (thank god, as I had just bought it). I've also been recommended the extended pedals at some point to accommodate my wider stance, but I think I will wait for the new cranks before making any further purchases!

He wasn't to focused on the choice of saddle; as he said, once you have the crank length, foot connection, and reach sorted, most saddles will work for me.

 

[Junglist]

Does anyone use or has heard of Eat My Ride?

Started watching Harry Sweeny's YT videos (really recommended if you want some behind the scenes of a pro cyclist). He uses (or used) this app and seems pretty trick. Essentially a fancy way of tracking glucose usage during a ride and ensuring you're always fueled fully for the varying intensities of a ride/workout. Also has an app that can be loaded onto Edge head units too.

Yep, used it a few times. It used to have more free features but they've been taken away now. I have a Wahoo head unit but I thought the fuelling notifications seemed like a ace idea

 

[Martynt74]

Yep, used it a few times. It used to have more free features but they've been taken away now. I have a Wahoo head unit but I thought the fuelling notifications seemed like a ace idea

Does Wahoo not do that? I know my Garmin has various reminders you can configure, although i think these are usually distance/time based alerts rather than anything more calculated. Although i've never investigated it much. I set an auto drink reminder once and it was just irritating

*He says as someone who never drinks enough during rides and always gets home with >50% of his liquid remaining, despite always telling myself i need to be better, especially for longer rides